[AT] radiator question

[william.neff.powell at comcast.net]

Gene,

That is an excellent idea, thanks for sharing. 

When I as in college I worked in a salvage yard. They had a kit for pressurizing radiators. It had different plugs for one end and a keg like pump with a gauge on the other end. 

I always wanted a way to test my own radiators and the tube method seems like the way to go. Can the tube get to 15psi before blowing up?  

Regards,

Will Powell
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Gene Dotson" <gdotsly at watchtv.net>
>     Lew;
>     I use a bicycle inner tube to check radiators. Cut it apart so you have 
> the valve stem and long enough to connect to both ihe upper and lower 
> outlets. Clamp the ends with a hose clamp and close filler and drain 
> openings and inflate the inner tube. Large leaks will be very evident and 
> slow leaks can be detected with the residual pressure of the inner tube and 
> a little soapy water.
> 
>                     Gene
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Lew Best" <bee_keeper at clearwire.net>
> To: "At at Lists. Antique-Tractor. Com" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 12:58 AM
> Subject: [AT] radiator question
> 
> 
> Hey guys
> 
> 
> 
> I'm into my old Ford backhoe now & have the radiator off.  It has an oil
> cooler for the power steering built into the radiator that's never been
> hooked up since I got it.  I've only run the engine a few minutes at a time
> (it's far from being drivable right now) & never had a radiator cap on it;
> no signs of leakage but while I have the radiator off I'd like to pressurize
> it & be sure it don't leak.  On another radiator I just put those freeze
> plugs in the openings that look like the old thermos bottle plugs (rubber
> expands when you tighten the bolt down) & screwed an air fitting into the ¼
> NPT drain fitting.  This radiator has an odd ball drain fitting tho.  Any
> ideas?
> 
> 
> 
> Lew near Waco, TX
> 
> 
> 
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